Under a bright sun and with high spirits Sculpture by the Sea, Aarhus held the traditional awards ceremony at Tangkrogen where the recipients of this year’s prizes were announced. The awards were presented by Alderman of Culture Rabih Azad-Ahmed, who said, “As Alderman of Culture it is amazing to experience how art suddenly becomes a part of many peoples everyday life, and how we suddenly relate to art – and not just art at a museum or a gallery, but art at the beach and in the forest.”
THE SCULPTURE BY THE SEA, AARHUS 2015 PRIZE
The prize of DKK 50,000 ($9,600 AUD) went to the Danish artist duo Pernille Bøggild and Lisbeth Bank, for their work ‘back to nature’. The work was selected by an external curatorial panel consisting of Ph.D and curator, Kamma Overgaard Hansen, Museum Director at KUNSTEN Museum of Modern Art Aalborg, Gitte Ørskou and artist Søren Taaning. The panel described back to nature as a work “which very effectively explores transparency of the medium that makes it possible to see the works ‘thingy’s and gizmo’s’ in another framing. This framing might seem unnatural and brutal in the deep silence of the forest – however at the same time it unites both feathers and Barbie boots with it’s own sophisticated poetry. That is why we ‘the jury’ imagine that the audience’s experience of the work will stay with them long after they stand in front of it.”
Pernille Bøggild and Lisbeth Bank, back to nature, Sculpture by the Sea, Aarhus 2015. Photo Clyde Yee
LAURITZ.COM BUYS SAVAKOS ‘HELLO GOLEM’ FOR AARHUS CITY
The CEO of the auction house Lauritz.com Mette Rode Sundstrøm, initiated an auction ‘Give a sculpture to Aarhus City’, inviting donations from local citizens to contribute to the purchase of a work. At the awards ceremoney, Mette Rode Sundstrøm handed over ‘hello golem’ by the Japanese artist Savako to the Mayor of Aarhus to be permanently exhibited in the city.
Savako, hello golem, Sculpture by the Sea, Aarhus 2015. Photo Clyde Yee
THE AUDIENCE’S FAVOURITE
The Audience’s Favourite Prize of DKK 25,000 ($4,800 AUD) went to the Australian artist Lucy Humphrey, who created the work ‘horizon’. The work was selected on the basis of the audience’s votes. One of the visitors describes their reason for voting for the sculpture, “I voted for Horizon because sometimes it is necessary to turn the world upside down.”
Lucy Humphrey, horizon, Sculpture by the Sea, Aarhus 2015. Photo Clyde Yee
THE CHILDREN’S FAVOURITE
The children’s favourite prize of DKK 25,000 ($4,800 AUD) went to the Danish architect duo Gjøde and Povlsgaard, who created the work ‘den uendelige bro (the endless bridge)’. The work is selected on the basis of the children’s votes. A quote from one of the children, “It is different and yet again it isn’t.”
Gjøde and Povlsgaard, den uendelige bro (the endless bridge), Sculpture by the Sea, Aarhus 2015. Photo Clyde Yee
THE SCULPTURE BY THE SEA, AUSTRALIA INVITATION PRIZE
The prize was awarded to Czech Republic artist Jakub Geltner, for the work ‘nest 05’. The work was selected by an Australian and Danish jury consisting of Program Director of Aarhus 2017, Juliana Engberg, Dr. Michael Hill, Head of Art History & Theory, National Art School, Australia; and ARoS Museums Director Erlend Høyersten. Jakub Geltner receives an invitation to exhibit at Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi with DKK 25.000 ($4,800 AUD) towards the costs of exhibiting and a return plane ticket to Australia. The Founding Director of Sculpture by the Sea, David Handley said: “We are delighted that Jakub Geltner’s work will be exhibited in Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi following its successful exhibition in Aarhus as another example of the exhibition and career benefits received by the artists in Sculpture by the Sea.”
Jakub Geltner, nest 05, Sculpture by the Sea, Aarhus 2015. Photo Clyde Yee
THE FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND AND DENMARK PRIZE
The prize of DKK 10,000 ($2,000 AUD) went to the German/Lebanese artist Salah Saouli, who created the work ‘swarm’. The work was selected by the Australian Ambassador Damien Miller, Director of Faurschou Foundation, Jens Erik Sørensen and Chairman of Friendship Society of Australia, New Zealand and Denmark, Hanne Bache.
Salah Saouli, swarm, Sculpture by the Sea, Aarhus 2015. Photo Clyde Yee